Costa Rica

In which we attempt to recount the experience of the first game of D.C. United's 2015 Season.

The CONCACAF Champions League game between D.C. United and Alajuelense started not in the city of the game for us at 7pm last Thursday, but at a hotel more than 50 miles southwest of the area in a town named Jaco.

Our staff is confident in D.C. United's abilities going into their first competitive match of 2015.

Welcome to the 2015 edition of our staff and reader predictions! We kick of United's campaign with their trip down to Costa Rica in the Concacaf Champions League. Our staff is rather bullish, with only one of us predicting that D.

D.C. United has their opponent for the knockout round of the Concacaf Champions League.

Last night we found out that D.C. United had clinched the number one seed in the knockout rounds of the Concacaf Champions League. However, we also found out the identity of their first round opponent. With six points, Alajuelense of Costa Rica are guaranteed to be the group winner with the least amount of points, and therefore D.

Sporting KC head back to CONCACAF Champions League play tomorrow when they welcome Deportivo Saprissa to Kansas City for the first time since 2005. The Costa Rican side leads Group 2 with four points, drawing with Real Esteli 1-1 on the road and winning 3-0 at home. KC currently sits in third place in the group, having picked up the one point in their 1-1 draw with Esteli.

Joel Campbell was one of the best performers for Costa Rica in the FIFA World Cup 2014, however, he has struggled to get regular games for the Gunners that has fuelled lots of Arsenal transfer rumours surrounding his future.

Joel Campbell showed massive improvement last season at Olympiakos and with Costa Rica at the World Cup, but since his return to Arsenal he has found it very difficult to persuade Arsene Wenger to give him some playing time in the Premier League. This has led to many rumours that the youngster is unhappy at [.

The next couple of months could be pivotal for the Arsenal careers of our two forwards, Lukas Podolski and Joel Campbell. Both the World Cup winning German and the Young Costa Rican have clearly been chafing at their lack of playing opportunities and if things do not change, then January could see one or both [.

Sometimes in football it is important to read into what is not being said as much as what is being said and the Arsenal boss is no exception. In fact, Arsene Wenger could write a book on the art of deception and misdirection, he just wouldn't tell you where you could get it. The Frenchman [...]

Agent holding talks to push through Arsenal transfer - originally posted on Soccerlens.com

The injury to Olivier Giroud has disrupted Arsenal's transfer plans to a certain extent. Arsene Wenger was happy with the current crop of strikers he has at disposal, but the Frenchman's injury has forced him to look for options elsewhere.

Under the radar of our sports inundated country, two weeks ago the United States hosted a World Cup qualifying tournament that culminated last Sunday night at PPL Park in Chester, PA. The women's teams of the United States, Costa Rica, and Mexico all qualified for Canada 2015, while Trinidad and Tobago face Ecuador in a playoff series starting tomorrow.

The Central American Football Union has released provisional rosters for the seven nations taking part in this year's Copa Centroamerica which will be held in the United States for the first time ever and it looks like there's going to be plenty of familiar faces from this summer's World Cup in Brazil.

The Rest

Failed last summer, not this time? Manchester United target Real Madrid star - originally posted on Soccerlens.com

Manchester United legend Gary Neville recently has given his full backing to manager Louis van Gaal, saying the Dutchman should remain at the club, even if United fail to qualify for the Champions League.

The Union take on London United in the second match of the IMG Suncoast Pro Classic in Bradenton, Florida.

The Philadelphia Union's preseason continues with the second match in the IMG Suncoast Pro Classic this evening at 7:30 PM. After beating the Costa Rica U-23's 3-0 in the first match of the tournament, the Union were originally supposed to play TP Mazembe from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, but Mazembe couldn't make the trip to the United States and were replaced by "London United" - a team made up of out-of-contract MLS Players.